Helping a victim or not????

[ASC1WBullock]

Something that has been running in my mind from some post I have seen on this site. I have seen the debate of if we come across a person in our home and they are trying to retreat once confronted, do we let them go or stop them for life. The other part of this is the out in the open theory. Now I feel there are a lot of factors that play into this part of the situation.

One being if the BG is attacking you and you draw on him. Now if he retreats what will you do? Me, I think once the threat of danger to me has subsided then he is free to go. If I shoot him or her at this point I have just opened up a numerous amount of possible court issues with the prosecutor. One being why not let him go since the threat was done?

Second thing that bugs me is the ability for some people to say if they see a crime like a rape or robbery going on they wouldn't get involved because they are not the police. Let's take a look at this idea I have for a second: You are on your way home from spending a long day at the office. While driving home you notice a man in a alley way to your right on top of a woman coming down with hard blows while she is kicking and screaming. You continue home and come home to an empty house where ten minutes ago your wife told you she had dinner waiting. You then receive a phone call from the police saying your wife has been assaulted and you're needed at the hospital. You arrive to find out that female you saw getting assaulted in the alley way was indeed your wife. Now what decision do you feel is right for helping others.

I'm not I believe we need to get out and shoot the BG but I believe we owe it to ourselves to help the weak as we would want the same from a stranger if one of our loved ones was in the same situation. How do you decide to be a victim?

[blazemyowntrails]

I think the people that say "we are not the police" are really just saying they are not going to go out of their way to put themselves in danger. Leave that to the police. But I dont think any one of us is going to drive by a rape in progress and say "I wonder what hunny made me for dinner..."

I think we would find a safe spot, dial the police, be the best witness we can be without trying to play superhero. I would love to be able to play superhero macho guy and save the day, but the fact is- when you jump in, you run the risk of turning one victim into two. You have to be smart, be alert, and do what you can while balancing your will to do good with that of your safety.

[Phillip Gain]

Something that has been running in my mind from some post I have seen on this site. I have seen the debate of if we come across a person in our home and they are trying to retreat once confronted, do we let them go or stop them for life. The other part of this is the out in the open theory. Now I feel there are a lot of factors that play into this part of the situation.

One being if the BG is attacking you and you draw on him. Now if he retreats what will you do? Me, I think once the threat of danger to me has subsided then he is free to go. If I shoot him or her at this point I have just opened up a numerous amount of possible court issues with the prosecutor. One being why not let him go since the threat was done?

Second thing that bugs me is the ability for some people to say if they see a crime like a rape or robbery going on they wouldn't get involved because they are not the police. Let's take a look at this idea I have for a second: You are on your way home from spending a long day at the office. While driving home you notice a man in a alley way to your right on top of a woman coming down with hard blows while she is kicking and screaming. You continue home and come home to an empty house where ten minutes ago your wife told you she had dinner waiting. You then receive a phone call from the police saying your wife has been assaulted and you're needed at the hospital. You arrive to find out that female you saw getting assaulted in the alley way was indeed your wife. Now what decision do you feel is right for helping others.

I'm not I believe we need to get out and shoot the BG but I believe we owe it to ourselves to help the weak as we would want the same from a stranger if one of our loved ones was in the same situation. How do you decide to be a victim?

Either you're trolling to re-hash a debate that has been argued endlessly here...or fishing for a clear cut answer that doesn't exist.

You're posing two questions:

1) Should you let the BG get away if he has started retreating?
2) Should you intervene on behalf of a stranger in distress?

The short answer to #1 is that you are justified to shoot if you feel your life or well-being is in danger.

She short answer to #2 is that, while you are generally under no legal obligation to intervene on behalf of another, you may do so if you choose. BUT - you need to make sure you comprehend the situation and are willing to accept the risk to yourself and your loved ones. Here are a couple of questions you might want to consider:

- IS IT CLEAR who is the assailant and who is the victim?
- WHAT IS THE RISK to me if I intervene and am unsuccessful?

For example - you come across one man holding an unarmed man at gunpoint...you draw...gunfire is exchanged while the unarmed man makes his escape, and the armed man goes down.

As the police arrive and start to sort things out, they find that the armed man was defending himself against the robber who had a pocket knife. The apparently unarmed guy you just helped to escape to safety. So now you're up for assault, maybe attempted murder, and aiding/abetting. Good chance you'll get clear of most of those charges and can cut a decent deal for the ones that are left. But then you still have to deal with the lawsuit from the guy you shot.

In short - make sure you know what you're getting into before you slap leather.

[tuts40]

I think the people that say "we are not the police" are really just saying they are not going to go out of their way to put themselves in danger. Leave that to the police. But I dont think any one of us is going to drive by a rape in progress and say "I wonder what hunny made me for dinner..."

I think we would find a safe spot, dial the police, be the best witness we can be without trying to play superhero. I would love to be able to play superhero macho guy and save the day, but the fact is- when you jump in, you run the risk of turning one victim into two. You have to be smart, be alert, and do what you can while balancing your will to do good with that of your safety.

Nuff said. +1.

[NavyLCDR]

I think the people that say "we are not the police" are really just saying they are not going to go out of their way to put themselves in danger. Leave that to the police. But I dont think any one of us is going to drive by a rape in progress and say "I wonder what hunny made me for dinner..."

I think we would find a safe spot, dial the police, be the best witness we can be without trying to play superhero. I would love to be able to play superhero macho guy and save the day, but the fact is- when you jump in, you run the risk of turning one victim into two. You have to be smart, be alert, and do what you can while balancing your will to do good with that of your safety.

Then when the rape is done and the criminal cuts her throat with the knife, then what? Oh, I'm sorry... I could have prevented that... but I chose to call the police... who, when seconds count are only two hours away. I would not have it in me to stand by and be the best possible witness to a violent crime while waiting for the police to arrive.

[Budreaux39]

Why is it that 'most' people, civilians, police, lawmakers or otherwise, feel that if any ccw person seen 2 people in an alley and one had a gun on the other, if the ccw person stops to help that they are just gonna start shooting? I mean, is this something we see all the time? (TV) Not picking on anyone in particular but this fuels the fire for the anti's. The way we say and write our 'thoughts' should present more considerate thinking about the 'fuel' for both sides of the gun/self defense issue.
Just saying :p

[BRBruce]

That second story reminds me of Spider-Man. He had the chance to stop the guy who ended up killing his Uncle Ben.
Question one:If there is somebody already in your home and you have a chance to draw, he shouldn't have time to retreat. Cases tend to move a lot faster and smoother when there is only one story...yours.
Question two: This is very much a matter of personal decision making and situational conditions.

[SGTSKI]

Why is it that 'most' people, civilians, police, lawmakers or otherwise, feel that if any ccw person seen 2 people in an alley and one had a gun on the other, if the ccw person stops to help that they are just gonna start shooting? I mean, is this something we see all the time? (TV) Not picking on anyone in particular but this fuels the fire for the anti's. The way we say and write our 'thoughts' should present more considerate thinking about the 'fuel' for both sides of the gun/self defense issue.
Just saying :p

Yeah it does seem to be the trend to assume that every "intervention", for lack of a better word, turns into a shoot/don't shoot scenario. But since when does being a permit holder, or gun owner in general, limit your options of helping someone only to the use of a firearm?

I have to believe that armed or otherwise, I would intervene and do everything in my power to help someone in a situation like the one presented by the OP.
That being said, there is a time and place for everything. The situation dictates every scenario, and the response to one scenario will not be appropriate or feasible for every other scenario.
And there are definitely times when it is wholly inappropriate to involve yourself at all.

At the end of the day, if I did what I knew to be the right thing, regardless of the consequences, I can live with that...

[Alex220]

Phillip Gain nailed it

[ASC1WBullock]

Phillips Gain, good points and for your first comment about bringing old post if you read my opening statement you will see I said something that has been bugging me about these post replies. Second if you intervene does that mean you have to shoot someone? No. Stopping the threat doesn't mean shooting all the time or even most of the time. Am I wrong?